Shank stiffener



Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

Unirse STATES kstuurman n. IBARTELS, or LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

, sHANx s'rIFFVENER.

Application filed September' 8, 1920. Serial :,Np. 408,800.l

are usually made or thin dat strips ot metal,

as duct-ile iron or steel, and are designed to be iastened to the latblank which has been ormay afterwards be tempered by soaking it in waterand then .shaped or molded into the torni desired. In molding the soleniember, the stiiiener is also given 'afdefinite shape to hold themember in the desired torni.

Heretotore thek stiil'ener has been secured to the sole member by meanso'ktines or prongs struck out ot' the body ot Athe metal and turned atright angles thereto. The tines are designed to be driven through theleather of the sole member, and, it the sole membei is sutlicientlythin, to clinch on the upper tace thereof. ln suoli case, the bentovertines orm hard points on the upper side of the sole 'which areobjectionable to the purchaser or wearer ot the shoe. ln case the tinesdo not pierce entirely through the leather and clinch, the stiilener islikely to pull loose therefrom when the sole is shaped into torni asstated above. Another objection to metallic stiffeners, as at presentused,

is that they are provided with no effective protection againstcorrosion, and consequently compounds are formed by the combination ofthe tannic acid of the leather or of moisture with the metal of thestitfener, which discolor the leather about the stii'lener and impairthe commercial value of the shoe.

The present invention contemplates remedying the above objections byproviding a shank stitener in which the tines are struck up at an angleof less than 90 to the plane of the body portion so that the tines will'not pierce entirely through the leather, and,` by .arranging the tinesin pa'rs inclined toward each other whereby the tines grip the leatherbetween them, irmly securing the stitfener to the sole. A single tine,set at an angle of less than 90o would tend to iiatten and not penetratethe leather, so that, as stated7 it is important that the tines bearranged in pairs and be closely adjacent. The formation of thediscoloring compounds, as set forth above, is prevented by coating thestiliener with a suitable waterproof varnish which prevents corrodinginfluences from coming into contact with the metal.

Aspecific;embodiment 'ofthe invention is disclosed .on :the accompanyingdrawings, tormingajpart of the present application, in which f f -KFigure lshows a planl view of the stitlener attached to the shoe. i n yFigure 2 is a plan view of the stitfener lone. c Jl y Figure v3 shows`aI-stiffener'placed on an outersoleandready to be attached the-reto.

Figure 4l shows-the stiifener attached to the sole. f

Figure 5- is la view- .similarto Figure 2, but showing a modification.y

Referring to the drawings yby reference numerals, 'the `same numeralsdesigna-ting the samel parts throughoutvthe drawings,- 10l designatessole, which I have selected merely for 'the purpose of illustrating asole member, and 11 a shank stitfener attached thereto. The 'shankstitlener (see Figures 2 and 3) has formed adjacent its ends and withinits margin pairs of closely adjacentA tines orprongs 12 and 13,preferably struck from the body of the metal. The tines ot each pair arepreferably in alinementwith each other longitudinally ot the stiilenerand are inclined toward each other and at an angle ot' less than .90 tokthe body of the stiiener. Preferably also, when this can be done, bothtines of -a pair are so cut and struck from the material as to leave buta lsingle hole therethrough, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, thematerial struck therefrom being divided transversely substantiallycentrally to form the free ends of the tines. By bending .the tines atless than 90O to the plane of the body portion the metal is lessweakened at the bends than if they were bent through a larger angle.Formed in -this manner, when the stifl'ener is in position on the soleas shown in Figure 3, the tines are driven into the leather of the soleat angles to the surface thereof, the ends of the tines clinching withinthe body of the sole and gripping a portion ot' the leather thereofbetween them. Thus the tines do not penetrate entirely through theleather and give the shoe a damaged appearance, or allord an opportunityfor discoloration adjacent the points, even though the stiffener is notjapanned or varnished.

It will appear from the above description that the tines, if desired,may be placed on the stiifener in transverse alinement thereon and thattherel may be any number ofy C 10 parts, shellac 25 parts, alcohol 15parts,

and turpentine 45 parts.

What I claim is y 1. A shank stifiener comprising a blank of thin sheetmetal having a hole formed by the striking of material therefromadjacent to one end, the material so struck being transversely dividedto form a pair of oppositely positioned prongs projecting` from one facethereof and inclined toward each i' other.

2. A shank stiffener comprising a blank of thin sheet metal havingprongs struck therefrom Within its margin in oppositely disposed alinedpairs, the prongs of each being closely adjacent to and inclined towardeach other.

3. A shank stiffener comprising a blank of thin sheet metal havingprongs .struck therefromat less than'QOo and arranged in opposed pairs,the prongs of each pair being inclined toward each other. Y

4. The combination with a shoe sole of a shank st'iii'ener securedthereto by means of prongs projecting from the stiii'ener, said prongsbeing arranged in adjacent alined pairs struck from Vthe material of thestiffener Within its margin and gripping Va portion of the sole betweenthem, said prongs being clinched toward each other Within the body ofsaid sole.

5. The combination with a shoe sole, of a shank stiffener securedthereto'by means of prongs projecting from said stiifener, saidV vprongsbeing struck from the material of said stilfener less than 90o andinclined toward each other in opposed pairs gripping a portion of saidsole therebetween and clinched Within the body of said sole. j

In testimony whereof I' have afliXed my signature.

REINHARD E. BARTELS.

